Former Iberia Parish President Will Langlinais has complied with the terms of his home incarceration, even when he was fishing at Marsh Island and performing community service at the Delcambre Shrimp Festival, District Judge John Conery said Wednesday.

Conery called a hearing Wednesday to review the conditions of Langlinais' probation, including his six-month home incarceration sentence. The judge said he scheduled the hearing after receiving complaints that Langlinais had been seen fishing at Marsh Island, socializing at the Delcambre Shrimp Festival and having dinner at Cypress Bayou Casino.

"Hopefully, this public hearing will put an end to the rumors and speculation about what Mr. Langlinais can and can't do," Conery said.

Advertisement

Conery accepted some responsibility for what he termed a "misunderstanding," between Langlinais, his probation officer and the judge, and said Langlinais' original sentence did not specify the conditions of his home incarceration.

Conery filed an order last month that spelled out the conditions in detail, including restrictions that prevent Langlinais from fishing, attending fairs or festivals, or enjoying any other social or recreational activity without court approval.

Langlinais did have court approval to spend a weekend crabbing with his wife and granchildren at his camp in Marsh Island last month, according to his probation officer Frank Ellis.

Langlinais said he went on the outing after receiving permission from his Ellis, who consulted with Conery.

"I had just gone through an ordeal in my life," Langlinais said. "I wanted to make sure I crossed every T and dotted every I."

Langlinais said he worked at the Delcambre Shrimp Festival as part of his community service. He said he repaired a fence on the festival grounds and unloaded 50-pound boxes of shrimp during the event.

"I never went out socializing at the event," Langlinais said. "I tried to stay out of view."

Langlinais denied going to Cypress Bayou Casino, saying any rumored sighting might have been a case of mistaken identity. Ellis said Langlinais never requested permission to go to the casino, and had no reason to believe he did so.

"I've never been to the casino in Charenton," Langlinais said.

Langlinais cried as he recalled hardships he has encountered while on house arrest, saying he declined invitations to attend his grandson's birthday party at Chili's and a Grandparent's Day at a local school out of fear that he would be violating his probation.

Langlinais said the home monitoring device he wears also prevents him from walking outside to mow the grass or take out the trash.

"I don't want to do anything that would cause problems or cause me to have my sentence revoked," he said.

Conery ordered Langlinais be switched from a traditional, telephone-based home incarceration monitor to a Global Positioning Satellite tracking system. Ellis said the GPS monitor would provide data as to Langlinais' exact location.

Conery also recommended Langlinais perform community service for other organizations than the town of Delcambre, such as St. Francis Diner or another non-profit organization, to dispel any appearances that he is receiving preferential treatment.

"It would be helpful to show that Mr. Langlinais is attempting to reconcile with the community," he said.

"Hopefully, the community will make the same attempt at reconciling with him."

Conery said he was satisfied with Langlinais' conduct on probation thus far. He said part of his reason for calling the hearing was to publicly address rumors that Langlinais was violating his probation.

"The evidence today indicates Mr. Langlinais did not violate any conditions of his probation," Conery said.

"He has been in full compliance."

Conery said he extended Langlinais' house arrest by two weeks last month based on reports that he was not following the guidelines of home incarceration.

He said that extension still stands, but that he would reconsider it toward the end of the original term if there are no other problems.